Air Force Details Bases Absorbing Employee Cuts

January 12, 2012

The Air Force plans to cut 598 civilian positions from Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as part of its next round of buyouts and early retirements.

According to briefing documents submitted to Congress on Wednesday and obtained by Federal Times, the Wright-Patterson cuts will come from cutting headquarters and overhead, streamlining functions, "right-sizing" programs, and ending duties that would otherwise have been insourced from contractors. However, the steep civilian cuts follow an increase of 364 positions announced last November, so the net loss at Wright-Patterson will be 234.

The Air Force also plans to cut 468 civilian positions from Texas bases — mostly at Joint Base San Antonio, which alone will lose 410 positions; 192 from California bases; and 310 from Colorado bases during the second round of buyouts and early retirements.

The Air Force is also planning to close its Logistics Management Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex in Alabama. And six other agencies would be consolidated into two field operating agencies in San Antonio.